San Francisco Symphony presents the Shenson Spotlight Series featuring Martin James Bartlett
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
7:30 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2025

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[7:35 PM] {lights down, house announcements}
[7:36 PM] {enter MJB; greetings & program commentary}

1. [7:38 PM] François Couperin (1668–1733): Les Baricades mystérieuses from Second livre de pièces de clavecin (ca. 1717)
   [7:41 PM] {work ends}
   
   [7:41 PM] {MJB program commentary}
2. [7:42 PM] Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764): Gavotte and Six Doubles from Suite in A minor, RCT 5 (ca. 1726)
   [7:48 PM] {work ends}
   
   [7:48 PM] {MJB program commentary}
   Robert Schumann (1810–1856): Kinderszenen, Opus 15 (1838)
3. [7:50 PM] Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and People)
4. [7:52 PM] Kuriose Geschichte (Curious Story)
5. [7:53 PM] Hasche-Mann (Blind Man’s Bluff)
6. [7:53 PM] Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)
7. [7:54 PM] Glückes genug (Happy Enough)
8. [7:55 PM] Wichtige Begebenheit (Important Event)
9. [7:56 PM] Träumerei (Dreaming)
10. [7:58 PM] Am Kamin (At the Fireside)
11. [7:59 PM] Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobbyhorse)
12. [8:00 PM] Fast zu ernst (Almost Too Serious)
13. [8:01 PM] Fürchtenmachen (Fearmongering)
14. [8:02 PM] Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
15. [8:04 PM] Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)
    [8:06 PM] {work ends}
    
    [8:07 PM] {MJB program commentary}
16. [8:07 PM] Robert Schumann: Widmung, Opus 25, №1 (1840/48), S.566; transcribed for piano solo by Franz Liszt (1811–1886), AKA Liebeslied
    [8:11 PM] {work ends}
    
    [8:11 PM] {MJB program commentary}
17. [8:12 PM] Maurice Ravel (1875–1937): Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899)
    [8:17 PM] {work ends}
    
    [8:18 PM] {MJB program commentary}
18. [8:19 PM] Richard Wagner (1813–1883): Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90 (1859/68); transcribed for piano solo by Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
    [8:25 PM] {work ends}
    
    [8:25 PM] {MJB program commentary}
19. [8:26 PM] Maurice Ravel: La Valse (1920)
    [8:36 PM] {set ends: applause and encore break}
    
    1st Encore
20. [8:38 PM] The Man I Love (George Gershwin)
    [8:40 PM] {applause and encore break}
    
    2nd Encore
21. [8:40 PM] I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin)
    [8:42 PM] {final applause; one more bow; off for good; show ends}

• Martin James Bartlett: piano.

Wow, crazy warm today: mid 70's on the Rockridge BART platform at 6:30 PM. Hopefully it won't get hotter until next month!

Like several of the other shows in the Spotlight Series, attendance at tonight's recital was rather sparse. Or rather, it appeared to me that scheduling the show into a smaller space nearby (such as Herbst Theatre or Hume Concert Hall) would have been a more welcoming choice to a relatively unknown performer making their first US appearance! On the other hand, MJB seemed pretty comfortable with the circumstances, and connected admirably with the crowd by chatting us up between each of the major works. I was also quite impressed that he played the entire program from memory: no sheet music, no iPad.

I really enjoyed the two encore pieces (yay, Gershwin!), but I'd criticize that playing the first at an allegro-moderato (instead of a more languid largo) diminished the sensual longing evoked by the lyrics. Likewise, MJB positively ripped through the second encore (finishing it in barely more than a minute). That blistering tempo might be perfect for showing off his chops, but hardly leaves much room for any explorations of theme and variation (and after all, we're talking about the 'rhythm changes', right?). Maybe next time he'll indulge in a bit more exposition at the end of the night.

Program Notes or program notes

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2025 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2025 event list! ☸ On to the next event!